What's the Difference?

저 (jeo) is the formal/polite way to say "I" in Korean, used with strangers, elders, and in professional settings. 나 (na) is the casual form, used with close friends and people younger than you.

Pronouns & Formality

미안해 (mianhae) is the casual way to say sorry in Korean, used with close friends and younger people. 죄송합니다 (joesonghamnida) is the formal and deeply respectful apology, used with elders, strangers, and in professional settings.

Apologies & Formality

안녕 (annyeong) is the casual way to say hello (and goodbye) in Korean, used with close friends. 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) is the standard polite greeting used with everyone else, including strangers, elders, and colleagues.

Greetings

고마워 (gomawo) is the casual way to say thank you in Korean, used with close friends and younger people. 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) is the formal and respectful form, appropriate for strangers, elders, and professional situations.

Gratitude & Formality

Korean has two number systems: Sino-Korean numbers (일, 이, 삼) are used for dates, money, phone numbers, and counting above 100. Native Korean numbers (하나, 둘, 셋) are used for counting objects with counters, hours, and ages.

Numbers & Counting

은/는 (eun/neun) is the topic marker that highlights what the sentence is about or contrasts information. 이/가 (i/ga) is the subject marker that identifies who or what performs the action, often introducing new information.

Particles & Grammar

존댓말 (jondaenmal) is Korean formal/polite speech used with elders, strangers, and in professional settings. 반말 (banmal) is casual speech used with close friends, younger people, and children. Choosing the wrong one can cause serious social misunderstandings.

Speech Levels & Formality

우리 (uri) means 'our/we' but is uniquely used in Korean where English would say 'my' — such as 우리 엄마 (our mom) or 우리 나라 (our country). 제 (je) is the formal possessive 'my' used when individual ownership needs to be clear.

Pronouns & Culture

뭐 (mwo) is the Korean word for 'what' and asks for an open-ended answer about identity or content. 어떤 (eotteon) means 'which' or 'what kind of' and asks about the type, quality, or selection from a group.

Question Words

같아 (gata) is the predicate (sentence-ending) form of 같다 meaning 'is the same' or 'seems like'. 같은 (gateun) is the modifier form that comes before a noun, meaning 'same' or 'like' — as in 같은 반 (same class) or 너 같은 사람 (a person like you).

Adjectives & Modifiers